FLDS cult’s presidency fight appears headed to court

Utah state officials are blocking any further attempts by rival church leaders to seize control of Warren Jeffs’ polygamous FLDS sect, which likely means a judge will decide, the Associated Press reports:

The commerce department’s Division of Corporations has placed an administrative hold on the two legal entities that comprise the Hildale-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The hold is in place until May 2, according to a memo from the division’s director, Kathy Berg.

While in jail in January of 2007, Jeffs told family and key sect members he had never been a prophet and named William E. Jessop as the faith’s rightful leader.

Jeffs dicated his message by phone — in a videotaped call — to a jail house visitor William Jessop himself.

When Jessop objected to Jeffs’ admission that he is not the prophet, Jeffs told him that ‘the Lord’ was ‘dictating’ the information to him.

During his phone call Jeffs said:

To Nephi, You can tell anybody who wants to read this message [garbled] that they can see it even apostates and gentiles that they may know that I have been a liar and the truth is not in me. I am not the prophet. I never was the prophet.

Jessop interrupted, saying, “You are the prophet.” Jeffs then said:

Just a minute — the Lord is still dictating. This is not a test. This is a revelation from the Lord God of Heaven to his former servant who was never his servant who is dictating these words at this time that you may know this is not a test. I say farewell again, to all who qualify for Zion. Farewell.

Jeffs also told Jessop, “I know of your ordination, that you are the key holder, and I have sent a note with my signature so that there is no question.”

Jeffs made his pronouncement just before he attempted to commit suicide. Later he apparently retracted his statements.

On Monday last week Jessop filed papers petitioning the Utah Department of Commerce to take over the presidency of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from Jeffs. At the time he told the Associated Press his action was not an attempt to take over the church, but rather the fulfillment of an earlier directive from Jeffs.